LOWER SNAKE RIVER, Wash. – Vehicle crossings at Little Goose Lock and Dam, located on the lower Snake River near Starbuck, Washington, will be temporarily closed Thursday, Jan. 11, through Tuesday, Jan. 16, to accommodate work on the fish ladder cooling water pump installation project. This project requires crane work that will block the roadway across the dam, according to operations officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District.
Access to Little Goose Dam’s south shore tailrace park, picnic area and river walk at the downstream end of the navigation lock remains open to the public, as well as Little Goose Landing, located one mile upstream of the dam on the south shoreline. The nearest bridge across the Snake River is located about 8 miles northwest of Starbuck, Washington, on Highway 261, between Lyons Ferry Marina and Lyon Ferry State Park.
Other Corps dams on the lower Snake River that allow vehicle crossings have announced their schedules for the Monday, Jan. 15, Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday federal holiday: Lower Granite Lock and Dam, near Pomeroy, Washington, will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for public vehicle crossings; Lower Monumental Lock and Dam, near Kahlotus, Washington, will be closed.
Travelers can call 1-888-DAM-INFO (1-888-326-4636) for the most current dam-crossing information at all three of Walla Walla District’s dams that allow public traffic to cross the Snake River: Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite.
Non-holiday hours for crossing dams in the Walla Walla District are as follows:
Lower Granite Lock and Dam – crossings are allowed daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for federal holidays, unless otherwise announced. Tour and school buses must contact the dam at 509-843-1493 at least 24 hours in advance for crossing authorization.
Little Goose Lock and Dam – open for crossings once an hour, on the half-hour, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday and closed on federal holidays unless otherwise announced. Crossing times are 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 in the morning, and 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30 in the afternoon. Tour and school buses must contact the dam at 509-399-2233, extensions 227, 231 or 253, at least 24 hours in advance for crossing authorization.
Lower Monumental Lock and Dam – open for crossings once an hour, on the half-hour, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday and closed on federal holidays unless otherwise announced. Crossing times are 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 in the morning, and 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30 in the afternoon. If approaching from the south shore, travelers can reach the security guard for crossing escort by calling #228 on the phone at south gate. Tour and school buses must contact the dam 24 hours in advance for authorization 509-282-3219/3218.
At all three dams, passenger cars, motorcycles, open trucks, recreation vehicles, small vans and farm equipment, with the exception of fuel trucks, will be allowed to cross. Large commercial vehicles, trucks, vehicles hauling flammable or explosive cargo and vehicles that cannot be easily searched will not be allowed to cross the dams. All vehicles crossing Corps dams are subject to a search. Photo identification is required for all vehicle occupants 18 years of age and older. Security guards are authorized to perform detailed vehicle searches and deny vehicle access across the dam. Drivers may not stop their vehicles to take pictures or sight see during escorted crossings. Pedestrian traffic across the dam is not allowed because of safety considerations.
Operations officials note there could still be closures. The district may, at any time, close access to traffic for extended periods of time due to operations, maintenance or construction-related activities at a dam. A change in security conditions could also terminate public access across the dam until such time as threat levels decrease. The public will be notified about closures, if possible, in advance, but the crossing is still subject to closing at any time..
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Release no. 18-001